Imagine visiting a school you left 53 years ago. This was the exhilarating experience of 16 women who went on a trip down memory lane to their alma mater – SMK Raja Perempuan Kelsom in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
The 16 were among about 50 former students who have stayed in touch through the years, always making a point to meet up for lunch, tea and happy occasions to reminisce about their time at the institution, formerly known as Government English Girls School or GEGS.
Most of them have been friends since they were in Standard 1 at the primary school in 1963, now known as SK Datin Khadijah.
After leaving school, they went their separate ways.
However, as their children grew older and with more time on their hands, they managed to get together for their first reunion about 30 years ago.
After that, group chats and social media have made communication much easier.
To mark turning 70, they decided to organise a trip to their hometown for a three-day, two-night walk down memory lane, said the organisers in a press statement.
Their first group dinner was a time of laughter, reminiscing about their time in primary and secondary school.
These included tales of how they were caught doing things they were told not to and the many ways they devised to get out of trouble.
The highlight of their trip was their visit to GEGS. The main building of the school, formerly called The King’s Pavilion, was once the official residence of the Perak British Resident during colonial rule in Malaya.
Many new buildings have since been built over the years but nothing could beat the excitement of seeing their old classroom as well as the open-air assembly area where they used to sing Negaraku and recite the Rukun Negara.
The school assembly area then was a small field in front of the concrete steps, which were used as a mini stage.
Now, the school has a hall for assemblies and other school events.
The current principal Zaini Mat Saman and a few of the teachers hosted the special guests during their visit.
For the 16, mostly now residing in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, returning to Kuala Kangsar also gave them the chance to check out the town’s many tourist attractions.
This included visiting Victoria Bridge and shopping for Clay Batik, a new tourist product of Kuala Kangsar.
They also savoured laksa and cendol at the food court in the middle of town, and the famous Rendang Tok Yeop in Talang.
A visit to a mutual friend’s kampung house in Sayong, where they met her 90-year-old mother, was another nostalgic experience.
Dinner for that night, a delicious spread of kampung dishes, completed their memorable trip.
SMK Raja Perempuan Kelsom is an iconic building in the town, known for its Victorian revival style of classical architecture.
AB Hubback, the British architect who designed several notable buildings in the country, renovated it in 1906 to its current design.
It was renamed SMK Raja Perempuan Kelsom in 1970 by the then Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Iskandar Shah II, in honour of his mother Raja Puteh Umi Kalsom.
Among the school’s notable alumni is the Queen of Malaysia, Raja Zarith Sofiah.
